Entrepreneurship residency inspires students to explore the work of scenographer Bill Mitchell

A paid residency, supported by Research England under the Higher Education Innovation Fund and hosted by The Ladder in Redruth, has given three Falmouth students the chance to work on a live National Lottery Heritage Fund project exploring Bill’s Attic, an extraordinary archive chronicling the creative processes of legendary scenographer Bill Mitchell. 

This Creative Entrepreneurship Residency was based at The Ladder – a hub of performance spaces, workspaces and studios supporting artists and makers in the creative industries. The Ladder team are in the process of producing and commissioning a theatre piece based on Bill’s Attic and his techniques and processes for making theatre which were inspired by the objects, collections and ephemera contained within it.  

Students Chloe Eathorne (MA Professional Writing), Pip Latham-Mollart (BA Illustration) and Gem Stevens (BA Graphic Design) worked for a month as an inter-disciplinary team, using their skills to build a children's story inspired by the archive. The team at The Ladder were so impressed by the students’ talent that they also invited them to help refresh their branding. 

Chloe said: “My experience working with The Ladder has been incredibly rewarding. It has not only strengthened my skills but also inspired me to seek further freelance writing opportunities and get more involved in the local creative community. I hope this initiative continues for future graduates and students, as it plays a meaningful role in nurturing local talent, helping graduates take that next step to engage with real-world live projects. It also supports regeneration in areas like Redruth, where I grew up, which is currently undergoing a revival with creative hubs such as The Ladder breathing new life and opportunities into the community. 

Pip said: “Overall being able to work with such a dedicated and vibrant team has been a wonderful experience and informative on the wider range of opportunities to search for as a graduate. There was some information on being able to work freelance in Redruth, but mostly it was reassuring to know there are places like The Ladder and Krowji, both in Cornwall and elsewhere in the UK, looking to encourage creatives to work with them and their communities and how it is to be a part of a team like that beyond just creating artworks. It's been eye-opening for post-university plans” 

Gem said: “This has been an incredibly motivating experience as a graduate looking locally in Cornwall for my next opportunity. In hosting us for these past four weeks, The Ladder has shown me the developing creative community that they are a huge part of in Redruth and Cornwall generally. This work experience and insight have given me confidence that I can grow my career without moving to a big city, as I previously slightly dreaded. Contrasting the traditional internship offer, the work itself was largely self-directed, allowing me to build on self-management and motivation skills I had gained from my degree and put them to practice”